Page 32 of When a Soul Cries

Then she got in her car.

I stood there staring at the closed door.

Damn.

No number. No flirting. She didn’t even want my fucking name.

I watched her pull away before shaking my head.

“Mean ass.”

But I was smiling.

---

By the time I pulled up to Mama’s house, Rome’s car was already in the driveway.

Of course it was.

Before I could get completely out of my car, the front door flew open. Mama stood there with one hand planted on her hip.

“Well, damn. Hello to you too.”

“Don’t ‘hello’ me. Where are my groceries?”

I looked around the driveway like they might magically appear. “Rome ain’t get ’em?”

“I know you fucking lying.”

I started laughing.

“Mama, why you cussing? You supposed to be somebody’s saved woman.”

“I’m about to be somebody’s incarcerated woman fucking around with you.”

“Sugga, chill.”

“Don’t Sugga me either.”

She came down the porch steps, house shoes slapping against the concrete.

“I asked your ass to do one thing.”

“Technically, you didn’t ask. You texted me asking what I was doing.”

“Because I was *about* to ask you!”

“But you didn’t.”

Her mouth dropped open.

I smiled.

Wrong move.

“Kai, I swear to God—”

The front door opened behind her, and Rome stepped outside already laughing.